Biocompatibility and biodegradability of spider egg sac silk

  • Kris Gellynck
  • Peter Verdonk
  • Ramses Forsyth
  • Karl Fredrik Almqvist
  • Els Van Nimmen
  • Tom Gheysens
  • Johan Mertens
  • Lieva Van Langenhove
  • Paul Kiekens
  • Gust Verbruggen
Article
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Accepted:

Abstract

Spider egg sac silk (SpESS) were enzymatically cleaned and their biodegradation in vivo and in vitro, as well as their biocompatibility were studied. Proteinase K treatment diminished the tenacity and the strain of the SpESS fibers in proportion to the enzyme concentration. Fibers treated with trypsin were not significantly affected. Tensile properties of Vicryl®, SpESS and of silkworm (Bombyx mori) silk fibers (SWS) were measured after incubation in phosphate buffered saline (PBS) at 37 °C up to 12 weeks. Biodegradation of SpESS and SWS was insignificant compared to Vicryl®. Five milligram SpESS fibers from laboratory grown spiders (Araneus diadematus) were treated with proteinases before sterilization and subcutaneously implanted in Wistar rats. After 1, 4 and 7 weeks the immunological reaction was compared to untreated SpESS and polyglactin (Vicryl®) control samples. SpESS samples treated with trypsin only or in combination with a Proteinase K treatment induced less inflammatory reactions than untreated silk fibers. The enzymatical cleaning could diminish the tensile properties, but enhanced the biocompatibility of the SpESS fibers rendering them appropriate for use in biomaterial application where the slow biodegradability is an advantage.

Keywords

Giant Cell Linear Density Silk Fiber Spider Silk Dragline Silk 
These keywords were added by machine and not by the authors. This process is experimental and the keywords may be updated as the learning algorithm improves.
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Notes

Acknowledgement

This research is funded by the BOF (special research funds) of the Ghent University (B/03191/02 IV1). PCM Verdonk is a research assistant for the Fund for Scientific Research Flanders (FWO Belgium).

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Copyright information

© Springer Science+Business Media, LLC 2008

Authors and Affiliations

  • Kris Gellynck
    • 1
  • Peter Verdonk
    • 2
  • Ramses Forsyth
    • 3
  • Karl Fredrik Almqvist
    • 2
  • Els Van Nimmen
    • 1
  • Tom Gheysens
    • 4
  • Johan Mertens
    • 4
  • Lieva Van Langenhove
    • 1
  • Paul Kiekens
    • 1
  • Gust Verbruggen
    • 5
  1. 1.Faculty of Applied Sciences, Department of TextilesGhent UniversityZwijnaardeBelgium
  2. 2.Department of Orthopedic SurgeryGhent University HospitalGhentBelgium
  3. 3.N. Goormaghtigh Institute of PathologyGhent University HospitalGhentBelgium
  4. 4.Faculty of Sciences, Department of Biology, Unit of Animal Ecology, Zoogeography and Nature ConservationGhent UniversityGentBelgium
  5. 5.Department RheumatologyGhent University HospitalGhentBelgium

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